Cezar F. Duarte, 83, of New Bedford died September 28, 2015 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness.
He was the loving husband of Donna L. (Fortes) Duarte.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Frank Duarte and Henrietta (Pina) Montrond, he lived in New Bedford most of his life.
Mr. Duarte was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
He was formerly employed as a maintenance man at the Newport Post Office and later at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth until his retirement.
Mr. Duarte served in the U.S. Army Airborne during the Korean War and Vietnam War. He was a member of the Bisca Tournament Club and the Cape Verdean-American Veterans Association and Dr. C.E. Burt, Chapter 7 of Disabled American Veterans. In his youth, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.
Survivors include his wife; 3 sons, Dennis Duarte of Florida, Landon Duarte of New Bedford and Kenny Corriea of Chicago, IL; 3 daughters, Patricia Dawn Duarte and Brittany Duarte, both of New Bedford and Deidre Studley of Maine; a sister, Mildred Fernandes of New Bedford; 3 stepchildren, Justine Medina and Duane Barboza, both of New Bedford and Denise Fisher of Palm Beach, FL; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Derek Duarte and the brother of the late Laura "Larry" Michaels and Frank "Pee Wee" Duarte.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday, October 2nd from 4-8 PM.